Envelope handling machine



Aug. 23, 1932. A. GAY

ENVELOPE HANDLING MACHINE Filed April 25. 1950 7 Sheets-Sheefi l INVENTQR Aug. 23, 1932. Y 1,872,726

ENVELOPE HANDLING MACHINE Filed April 25. 1930 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 O *1 INVENTOR Aug. 23, 1932. v GAY 1,872,726

I ENVELOPE HANDLING MACHINE Filed A ril 25, 1930 7 Sheets-Sheet a (ID (ID INVENTOR fzai 6' BY is ATTORNEY I Aug. 23, 1932. Y 1,872,726

ENVELOPE HANDLING MACHINE Filed April 25, 1930 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 GD 7 (ID INVENTOR Aug. 23,1932 GAY 1,872,726

ENVELOPE HANDLING MACHINE I Filed April 25. 1930 7 Sheets-$het 5 INVENTOR Aug. 23, 1932. A. GAY 27 ENVELOPE HANDLING MACHINE File d A rilgs. 1930 7Sheets-Sheei 6 'rzg. a

Aug. 23, 1932. A. GAY 1,872,726

I ENVELOPE HANDLING MACHINE Filed April 25, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 mvENTaR Patented Aug. 23, 1932 UNITED "STATES PArENT oFF icE AZELGAY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO M'ULTIPOST COMPANY, OFiBQQHES- TER,..NEW YGEK A GOIRIORATION OF 'NEW YORK ENVELOPE HANDLING MACHINE Application filed April 25,

"My present invention relates to machines for handling envelopes, such as mailing machines, which, inr-apid-succession,. feed the envelope, 'aflix a postage stamp thereto, and 5 cancel't-he stamp; and postmark the envelope.

The invention'is useful in'machines performing all' of'these functions or any "of them, in fact, it broadly relates to envelope feeding machines. It has for its object to provide a 319 simple, efficient, and durable machine of this character that will operate with precision at high. speed, such as'in the case of'power driven mechanisms. To these and other ends, the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all-as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features "being pointed out in the-claims at the end'of' the specification.

In: the drawings:v

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an envelope feeding machine constructed in "accordance with and illustrating one embodiment of my invention;

'Fig. 2 isasrea-r elevation thereof;

'Fig. 31 is a top plan view with the transfer device orejector shown engaging the flap of an envelope and about to deliver it to the feeding mechanism, or. rather the conveying metihanism which carries it along its intended p Fig. 4: is another plan View similar to-Fig. "3 but showing thepositions of the parts after such envelope has been carried off Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top plan View, partly in horizontal section, but otherwise similar to Figs. 3. and 4,. showing the positionsof the parts at the instant atwhich the transfer device or ejectorhas completely delivered the envelope to the conveying means;

Fig-.6 is a plan view of the rotary ejector or'transfer device;

Fig. 7 is a sectionon the line 9-9 of'F'ig; 8,;

Fig. 8 is a transverse vertical sectionv across the machine showing the enevelope stacker or feed box in rear elevation;

@Fig. 9-is a side view in, fragmentary detail of certain cam mechanism shown in Fig.10;

'Fig. IO-is a repetition. in fragmentary detaili ofthis same cammechanism as'it appears 'orejecting element.

1930. Serial No. 447,372.

in Fig.10, except that-the parts; are in different positions;

Fig. 11 is a rear-viewof the-envelopestacker or feed box as it appears in Fig. 10, except that the parts are in different positions, and i is concerned with a machine that feeds open a envelopes by means oftheir flaps; In describing it, I will first gi'vea sketch of the machine in general with its main'functions.

1 is a hopper or boX (Figs. 1 to land 10),,

in which a stack of envelopes is placed with their flaps downward or-ion the underside, the stack of envelopes-being indicatedge'nerally at E. This stack holdingbox l'is located on topof a bed2'whi'ch: is general-1y the operating table ofthe machine. It is angularly arranged with'respect'toaa path of envelope feed determinedbyaa vertical: guiding wall 3 on'the table. Adjacent'to this guidingwall 3 andsubstantia-lly tangential to the table Q'are arranged conveyor roll couples 4. -5 and 67 which carry: the--envelopes, ultimately, along the said feeding path defined by the aforesaid guide wall 31and which are, through mechanism hereinafter described, thrown into and out of cooperation with eachother in synchronizedrelation to the operations-of the envelopejtransferrin-g The latter consists, in general, of a rotary disk-like element 8 (shown in detail in'Fig. 8)

which turns on a vertical axisjust abovethe table or bed 2. It has, a raised nose orgfinger .9" at a certain point; it operatesloeneaththe envelope stack box or-hopper 1; the'said nose 9; in the rotation of the element, is-adapted to engage between the envelope; E andrits flap F, as shown inFigs; 3, lOiand 16, and swings such bottom-most envelope over from the relatively inclined position ofigthe hopper to the position showninFig. 5 againstgthe guide wall 3. This element 8 may also constitute a moistening device for the inner gummed flap of the envelope, as described in my copending application which is, in part, a division of this application. As the member 8 places the envelope in the position of Fig. 5, its further rotation (in the direction of the arrows in the figures) is consistent with the progress of the envelope through the conveying means.

In other words, in the embodiment herein shown, there is provided means for feeding an envelope along a certain path of travel, a stacking device or hopper arranged at one side of said path of travel and a transfer element cooperating with the flap of the bottom envelope of such stacking device in such manner as to remove it therefrom, singly, and transfer it in a relatively lateral direction to the feeding means aforesaid.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, and, preliminarily, the Figures 1 to 4 thereof, 10 indicates the main frame of the machine supporting the bed 2 aforesaid. It is a high speed motor driven machine, the motor being indicated at 11 From a pulley 12 on the motor shaft, a belt 13 drives a pulley 14 on a shaft 15 at the rear side of the machine. This pulley 14 through a pulley 16 on the same shaft drives back to a pulley 17 on shaft 18, all as shown in the rear elevation of themachine in Fig. 2. There are thus provided two parallel transverse shafts 15 and 18 appropriatelygeared downfrom the high speed motor.

The shaft 18 (Figs. 2 and 10, also 11 and 12) carries a worm or spiral gear 19 meshing with a similar gear 20 on a vertical shaft 21 by which the latter is driven. The transfer or ejecting device 8, previously referred to is fixed to this shaft. It is shown in detail in Fig. 8 and has the beforementioned upwardly projecting finger 9. Upon each revolution of this element, the said finger engages beneath the flap of one of theenvelopes E at the corner of the latter or at least between the flap and the envelope, as shown in detail in Fig. 16. The said bottom envelope in the box or hopper 1 is thereby given a pivotal movement about the corner 22 by which it is thrown from the position of Fig. 3 to that of Fig. 5, against the guide wall 3.

It has always been a problem in the feeding of envelopes from stacks such as that shown at E to effect the engagement and ejection of only a single (bottom) envelope. As shown in Figs. 10 and 15, a soft tipped barrier rod 23 adjustable by means of a thumb screw 24 is provided on the inner wall 25 of the feed box 1, the general object of which is to permit only one envelope to slide therebeneath at a time. But in addition to this, I provide on the table 2 in the region of the corner 26 of the stack of envelopes E a button or raised projection 27 which tilts the whole stack and particularly the bottom envelope in such manner that room is given for its flap (as shown in Fig. 16) to separate or space itself from the table 2 so that the raised finger 9 of the transfer disk 8 will surely engage it. In other words, while the bottommost envelope is being removed laterally into its further conveying path, it turns on a pivotal point in the region of 22 but its only other real point of resistive contact is at 26 where the button 27 holds it tilted for the purposes aforesaid.

In passing from the position of Fig. 3 to that of Fig. 5, the envelope is presented between the feed roll couple 45. The latter or under roll is fixed upon the aforesaid shaft 18 that is continuously driven. The complementary upper roll 4 is journalled on a jockey shaft 28 that rides in a slotted bearing 29 in a sideplate 3 of the frame and table 2. This roll 4 is preferably covered with rubber or otherwise made competent to frictionally engage and advance the envelope as is companion roll 5. But fixed also on the jockey shaft 28 is a companion roller 31 10) that rides on a cam 32 on shaft 18. Said roll is shown on the low point of the cam in Fig. 10, so that feed rolls 4 and 5 are in contact or in position to compress and feed an envelope between them, but in Fig. 12, roll 31 is on the high point of the cam separating feed roll 4 from its couple 5, so that the bottommost envelope just referredL to (and indicated in Figs. 10 and 12 at E) may be received between them. The timing of the gearing between shafts 21 and'18 is such that this condition occurs when the envelope is presented squarely alined against the guide Wall 3 in the path of its further conveyance, as shown in Fig. 5, due to the previously de- Y scribed action of the transfer disk 8. Cam 32 immediately lowers controlling roller 31 riding thereon on jockey shaft 28 and drops feed roll 4 upon the envelope against its driving couple 5, which is continuously turning so that the envelope E is immediately shot endwise along its ultimate rectilinear path.

The feeding couples 45 and 67, their separation and their actuation toward each other must, of course, be synchronized in tne timing of the general mechanism as driven from the constantly revolving motor shaft pulley 12. For this purpose, the following mechanism is provided:

As shown best in Figs. 2, 3, and 10, the

jockey shaft 28 carrying the feed roll 4 is carried by a rock arm 44 pivoted at 45. It is normally held down to place the rolls 4 and 5 in feeding cooperation by a spring 46 at the outer end of the rock arm. Similarly pivoted at 45 is a rock arm 47 having a spring 48 that has a tendency to hold feeding and sealing roll 6 down upon its couple 7, for which purpose said roll 6 is mounted on a stud 49 on lever arm 7 that act through a slot 50 in guide wall 3. This roll 6 with its couple 7 compresses and seals the envelope as rapidly as it may be done in a high speed machine and after passing the couple 67, the sealed envelope is delivered by this couple either to any one of the several and consecutive envelope or letter treating instrumentalities heretofore referred to in the beginning of this specification or deposited as a finished product, so far as this particular element is concerned.

To briefly review the cycle, the bottommost envelope E is swung from the lateral stack E into the rectilinear path of travel; is received between the initial feeding couple l5; is shot along that path in accord with the motion of element 8, which is in the same general direction of travel (as a rotary forwarding motion is convertedintoarectilinear forwarding motion) against the guide plate 3; is picked up by the final sealing roll couple 67 and finally projected off of the end of the table 2. i

As at first stated and in brief, my present invention may be utilized to feed envelopes singly and rapidly along a given path; and to deliver them to any further mail treating instrum-entality that may be associated with the mechanism, as a unit.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an envelope handling machine, the combination with means for feeding an 'envelope along a certain path of travel, of a stacking device arranged at one side of said path of travel and at an angle thereto, and atransfer element cooperating with the stacking device and adapted to engage the flap of an envelope therein and thereby transfer it with a pivotal movement of the envelope in a relatively lateral direction to the feeding means.

2. In an envelope handling machine, the combination with means for feeding an envelope along a certain path of travel, of a stacking device arranged at one side of said path of travel and at an angle thereto, and a rotary transfer element cooperating with the stacking device and adapted to engage the flap of an envelope therein and thereby transfer it with a pivotal movement of the envelope in a relatively lateral direction to the feeding means.

3. In an envelope handling machine, the combination with means for feeding an envelope along a certain path of travel including a guide wall and feed rolls associated therewith, of a stacking device arranged at one side of said path of travel, and a rotary transfer element associated with the stacking device and adapted to engage the flap of an envelope therein and thereby transfer it in a relatively lateral direction to the feeding rolls and in parallel engagement with the said wall thereof.

4. In an envelope handling machine, the

feeding means, and means for synchronizing the actuating motion of the said feeding couple and the said transfer element whereby the former are open to receive the said envelope at the time that it is so transferred. 5. In an envelope handling machine, the combination with means for feeding an envelope along a certain path of travel including a feeding roll couple intermittentlycooperating with each other with feeding pressure, of a stacking device arranged at one side of said path of travel. a rotary transfer element associated with the stacking device and adapted to engage the flap of an envelope therein and thereby transfer the envelope in a lateral direction to the feeding means, and means for synchronizing the motion of the said feeding couple and the said transfer element whereby the former are open to receive the said envelope at the time that it is so transferred.

I 6. In an envelope handling machine, the combination with a table and means for feeding an envelope along a certain path of travel therealong, of a stacking device arranged at 10 one side of said path of travel and adapted to support a plurality of envelopes in a vertical pile with their flaps downward, and a rotary transfer element arranged above the table under the stacking device and adapted to engage the flap of the bottommost envelope therein and thereby transfer it in a relatively lateral direction to the said feeding means.

7. In an envelope handling machine, the combination with a table and means for feeding an envelope along a certain path of travel thereon, of a stacking device arranged at one side of said path of travel, and a transfer element cooperating with the stacking device and adapted to engage the flap of an envelope therein and thereby transfer it in a relatively lateral direction to the feeding means, said transfer element comprising a rotary disk upon which the stack of envelopes is adapted to rest and provided with a flap engaging 

